Members of the
public are often highly concerned when they hear about an oil spill,
particularly when the spill occurs in their local area and/or when media
reports on oiled wildlife associated with the spill. (D183.w1)

Oil spills may impact directly on a community, in the form of oiled
amenities such as beaches (which affects local people directly and via
effects on tourism), and destroyed or tainted resources such as
fisheries.

In many cases people want to DO something, and may be highly frustrated
by their inability to do so. (P14.7.w3)

Members of the
public can play an important role in oiled wildlife response. Their role
may be positive or negative. A positive role is more likely if the public
are properly educated about their potential roles in oil spill prevention
(e.g. how to dispose of unwanted oil in a responsible manner), reporting
of oil spills or oiled wildlife casualties, and ways in which they may
assist in the event of a spill.

The general public is usually extremely interested in oiled wildlife
response. (P14.5.w13)

Members of the public should be informed of the importance of oiled
animals, live or dead, being properly collected and recorded, and
encouraged to report dead individuals, not remove or bury them. (D183.w6)

N.B. Untrained people should NOT approach or touch an oiled animal. (W273.Aug03.oil1)

If an untrained person attempts to rescue and care for an oiled animal,
this may be detrimental or
even lethal for the animals, and dangerous for the people
involved. (D9,
D214.2.w2)

In the event of a spill, a publicity campaign should be mounted informing
the public about the desirability of leaving "hands-on" response
to those with the appropriate expertise. (D214.4.w4)

In order for
actions to be taken to respond to an oil spill, or to individual oiled
casualties, it is first necessary for the correct people to be informed
about the spill or the existence of the oiled casualties. (D220)

Reporting
an oil spill

Anyone detecting an oil spill which may harm the environment should
contact the relevant authority.

In the UK:

For inland/fresh water spills, the Environment Agency can be contacted on their 24
hour emergency line: 0800 807060.

For spills in UK marine waters, the relevant HM Coastguard
station should be contacted. In an emergency, if the number of the
Coastguard is not available, telephone 999 and ask for the
Coastguard.

For spills in ports or harbours, the port or harbour authority
should be contacted; if it is not possible to contact the port or
harbour authority directly, contact the Coastguard by telephoning
999.

Reporting individual oiled wildlife casualties

If an individual oiled animal is detected then it can be reported to
an appropriate wildlife rehabilitation organisation.

In the UK, this would be the RSPCA or the nearest wildlife
rehabilitation centre.

Note that not all wildlife rehabilitation centres have facilities to
deal with all species, and not all rehabilitators have the necessary
expertise to successfully clean and rehabilitate oiled animals.

Many vets will also take in casualty wild animals and often they
have links to
a local wildlife rehabilitator. However, not all veterinary surgeries
have appropriate facilities for housing non-domestic animals.

"Oil
spill response is a highly developed organizational and scientific
challenge to attempt to limit the ecological, social and economic aspects
of an oil spill." Oiled wildlife response is one component of
this. (P14.7.w3)

Opinions differ regarding why, and whether, oiled wild animals should
be cleaned and rehabilitated. These arguments span a wide range of
concerns, from conservation, wildlife health and welfare considerations to
financial and legal matters. The major arguments for and against
rehabilitation of oiled wildlife are outlined below.

Biologically, rehabilitation efforts are particularly important in
attempting to return to the breeding population individuals of species
which are endangered or threatened. (B23.38.w2)

"Under some circumstances, caring for oiled wildlife may
return a significant percentage of animals, including endangered
and threatened species, to their environment and help in the
maintenance of populations." (J57.12.w1)

Mortality due to oil pollution is not selective but
indiscriminate: the fittest individuals for breeding may be
impacted just as much as the least fit. (P14.7.w3)

Various irregular events (e.g. climate, weather and disease
events) can cause significant effects on mortality, survival and
breeding and if these occur so frequently that they outstrip the
ability of the population to recover through recruitment of
immigrants, the population will decline. With small threatened
populations exposed to recurrent mortality events, the
contribution of oiled wildlife response in reducing mortality may
be significant. (P14.7.w3)

Lessons learned and techniques developed while rehabilitating
individuals of common species, enable more effective
rehabilitation individuals of threatened or endangered species, if
this becomes necessary. (D9,
D159.II.w2,
D183.w5,
J29.8.w1, P24.335.w12)

While some reports suggest that very few birds survive and breed
once released following oiling and rehabilitation, other reports
indicate much higher rehabilitation rates with released
individuals returning to the breeding population. Both release and
survival rates may be affected by the species of the casualty, the
breeding or biological state of the individual casualties, the
type of oil, environmental factors such as weather and
temperature, whether care was initiated promptly etc. (D183.w5,
P14.7.w16)

"To conclude at this time that care of oiled wildlife is
of no biological significance, or that it can't be improved, seems
inappropriate." (J57.12.w1)

Oiled wildlife response has wide reaching conservation benefits,
wider than the temporal and geographical limits of an individual oil
spill:

Successful rehabilitation of small threatened populations is of
conservation importance. (P14.7.w3)

Lessons learned and practiced by rehabilitating common species
allow effective treatment of endangered and threatened species and
populations. (P14.7.w3)

Oiled wildlife rehabilitation can encourage conservation
advocacy; individuals given the chance to see and care for wild
animals often express their sense of privilege, fascination and
awe. There is an important opportunity to pass on to such people
conservation information which may have local benefit. (P14.7.w3)

Oiled animals (alive or dead) need to be picked up to prevent their
remaining in the environment as a continuing source of oil
contamination to conspecifics, predators, scavengers, humans and the
environment. Live animals must then either be treated and cared for,
or euthanased. (J57.12.w1)

Even if there are no resources available for effective
rehabilitation, euthanasia and collection of carcasses is still
required, to prevent secondary contamination of further animals,
unless this is not possible for reasons of human safety. (D183.w5)

Resources used in oiled wildlife response are generally not
available for other conservation actions; (P14.7.w3)

Oiled wildlife also present a research opportunity, with the chance
to gain information on the species. (D159.II.w2)

Against:

It is suggested that only a tiny proportion of oiled birds are
rescued, cleaned and released, those which are released generally
do not survive, and that therefore oiled wildlife response makes
no contribution to conservation. (D214.4.w4,
J313.1.w1,
P24.335.w12)

It has been suggested that cleaning oiled birds, even if successful,
is not significant in population terms, only serves human sentimental
values, and uses resources that could be better spent on conservation
measures (D159.II.w2).

Oiled birds, even if cleaned and returned to the
population, may not reproduce. (D183.w5)

Some people consider that money spent rehabilitating oiled animals
would be better used for habitat management and for mitigation of other
factors impacting wildlife populations. (P24.335.w12)

Rehabilitation concentrates only on individuals, not on species,
population and ecosystem conservation. (D159.II.w2)

Financial

For:

The costs of oiled wildlife response are less than 5%, and
usually only 1% to 2% of total costs for oil spill cleanup. (J29.8.w1,
J57.12.w1)

Very high costs per rehabilitated animal ($80,000) are
quoted for Enhydra lutris - Sea otter rehabilitation during the Exxon Valdez
spill, however this figure is derived by including capital
costs of building four rehabilitation centres in an
emergency, use of private helicopters and boats for
transport, and wages of people involved in activities not
related to animal care. (J57.12.w1)

Costs can be very high: it has been estimated that, following
the Exxon Valdez spill, US $80,000 was spent per
rehabilitated Enhydra lutris - Sea otter. (J22.254.w1,
J57.12.w2)

Public Opinion

For:

There is public expectation that concerted efforts will be
undertaken to restore the wildlife and environment, including by
treatment and rehabilitation of oiled individuals. (P14.7.w3)

There is strong support for oiled wildlife rehabilitation from
risk-source interest groups (shipping transport, fisheries, the oil
industry) and from communities (as indicated by donations, volunteer
participation, and the subscriber bases of relevant NGOs). (J57.12.w1,
P14.7.w3 )

Good public relations: oiled wildlife response is a very visible
part of oil spill response. (D9)

To many members of the public, each individual oiled animal
provokes an emotional response and concern for that animal's
welfare, whether the animal is of a common or endangered species. (D9)

Oiled wildlife response also provides "a real and valuable
outlet for community anxiety in oil spill events", helping to
reduce the feelings of hopelessness and victimisation which may result
from the scale of environmental damage. (P14.7.w3)

Against:

Unprofessional and clumsy interference will not
be acceptable to the public. (D183.w5)

Legal

For:

In many countries (e.g. USA) there is a strong legal basis,
and even requirement, for
wildlife rehabilitation following an oil spill. (D159.II.w2,
P14.7.w3)

In some countries legislation requires that companies responsible
for oil spills make provision for the rehabilitation of oiled
wildlife. (D9,
J29.8.w1)

Against:

In some countries there is strict legal prohibition
against interfering with wildlife. (D183.w5)

Philosophical/Ethical

For:

There is an ethical responsibility for
humans to mitigate the adverse effects of human actions (such as oil
spills) on the individual animal as well as the environment.
Additionally, since we have the ability to alleviate suffering of
oiled animals, we should do so. D183.w5)

On philosophical or moral grounds, oiled wildlife rehabilitation
provides a humane response to the fact that wild animals have been harmed
through human activities. (B23.38.w2,
D159.II.w2, J29.8.w1,
P24.335.w12)

"There is a moral imperative that a human-induced
catastrophe and its effects on wildlife, such as an oil spill, should
be remedied by people." (P14.7.w3)

Against:

Rehabilitation of oiled wildlife causes pain
and suffering; animals unlikely to survive should be euthanased.
(D183.w5)

Welfare

For:

For humane reasons, wild animals oiled due to human actions or
mistakes should be rehabilitated. (D159.II.w2)

Avoiding well-meant but potentially harmful actions by the public:

If no action is taken, well-intentioned individuals may try to
capture and care for oiled animals, which may be detrimental or
even lethal for the animals, and dangerous for the people
involved. (D9,
D183.w5,
J29.8.w1, P24.335.w12)

Against:

In some countries, shooting oiled birds is
considered to be the most humane response, to minimise suffering. (D183.w5)

For oil spills in remote, inaccessible areas, where
implementing rescue and rehabilitation is impossible, humane
killing of oiled wildlife is appropriate. (D60.6.w6)

Wildlife Health

For:

The risk that rehabilitation may result in release of a
novel disease into a naive wild population is real and
should not be ignored; however, risk analysis is employed to minimise this
risk, although inputs into such risk analysis are limited by lack
of knowledge of the health status of the wild populations in
question. (P14.7.w3)

Risks can be minimised by basic quarantine procedures,
including preventing direct or indirect contact with
domestic animals, good sanitation, general health screening
and specific screening of animals for relevant diseases
prior to release. (B377.13.w13)

Against:

There is a risk that rehabilitation may result in release of a
novel disease into a naive wild population. (B377.13.w13,
D159.II.w2,
P14.7.w3)

Effectiveness

For:

Data indicate post-release survival of some species is good. (B334.w3,
D183.w5)

Volunteering also provides something that individuals can do in
the face of an oil spill. (D183.w5)

While direct hands-on work with animals gains most of the publicity
during an oiled wildlife response, there are many other activities
which are required to support this work. Individuals who have not
received training to handle animals, nevertheless may be able to
assist in many other ways such as:

The importance of volunteers who are prepared to undertake
administrative tasks, such as answering telephones, running errands,
keeping records, organising supplies) and other support tasks such as
driving transport vehicles, preparing food and cleaning pens, should
not be underestimated. (D60.8.w8)

During an oil
spill incident in which large numbers of wildlife casualties are oiled and
are captured for rehabilitation, large quantities of a number of items are
needed for animal care and cleaning, including:

Newspapers;

Towels;

Clean (unused!) toothbrushes (used in cleaning birds);

In addition, if there are large numbers of volunteers then these
volunteers need drinks and food.

Members of the public may be able to assist with these needs.

N.B.
Needs vary among spills. People wishing to assist by donating items
should watch for announcements in the local media regarding what is
needed. (W273.Aug03.oil1)

A "wish list" of supplies which can be donated should be
made available for personnel answering telephone calls from the
public, and in the visitors' reception area. (D32.2.w2)

When oil is
spilled, actions should be taken to reduce its spread. (B20.13.w10)

Bunds:

For stored oil an important method of preventing spilled oil from
reaching the environment, particularly the aquatic environment where it is
most likely to contaminate wildlife, is by the use of bunds.

A bund is a secondary containment structure with raised walls, designed to contain spilled oil immediately
outside the original storage vessel. (D209)

In the UK there are regulations requiring that oil storage tanks
over a certain size (industrial, commercial and institutional sites
storing more than 200 litres of oil, domestic sites storing more than
3,500 litres) be
bunded, either by using a bund which is designed as part of the storage
tank, or by placing the tank within a concrete bund. (D209,
D168)

It is important to ensure that:

The bund wall and base are impervious to oil and water and are
regularly checked for leaks. (D168,
W39.Sept03.w1,
W39.15Feb05.w1,
W39.15Feb05.w2)

Valves and pipes are contained within the bund. (D209,
D168, W39.Sept03.w1,
W39.15Feb05.w1,
W39.15Feb05.w2)

There is no drain which would allow oil to escape from the bund. (D209,
D168, W39.Sept03.w1,
W39.15Feb05.w2)

The bund capacity is 110% of the volume of the tank, (D209,
D168, W39.15Feb05.w1)
or for bunds around several storage containers, 110% of the volume of
the largest tank or 25% of the total capacity of the tanks, whichever
is the greater. (D209,
W39.Sept03.w1)

The vent pipe from the tank faces down into the bund. (D209,
D168, W39.15Feb05.w1)

Drip trays:

A drip tray is another type of secondary container designed and placed
to catch oil leaking from a primary storage container, its ancillary
pipework and associated equipment. It may be used on mobile oil bowsers or
for one or more oil drums. (D209,
D168, W39.Sept03.w1)

Containment of spilled oil in the environment:

Whenever possible, spilled oil should be controlled and prevented from
reaching important habitats, for example by booming (see: Preventing Oiling of Wildlife
- Booms ). (D183.w5)

In the immediate vicinity of a spill on land, sandbags or earth can be
used to prevent spilled oil from reaching watercourses, including drains.
(W39.15Feb05.w1,
W39.15Feb05.w2)

Spilled oil should NOT be hosed down into drains or ditches. (W39.15Feb05.w1,
W39.15Feb05.w2)

Large scale oil
spills, for example from grounded ships, are the most visible face of
spilled oil. However, large amounts of the oil which enters the
environment and oils wild animals, comes from small spills, and from many
different sources such as cooking or car engine oils tipped into surface
drains. Most surface drains run more or less directly to a stream or
river, so oil poured into such a drain will contaminate that watercourse. (W39.15Feb05.w1) Even small spills of either petroleum or non-petroleum oil can
cause significant mortality due to oiling of birds. (J318.24.w1)
A considerable amount of chronic oiling could be prevented by education
about responsible oil disposal.

The Environment
Agency's Oil Care Code makes a number of suggestions regarding ways in
which each individual can ensure that they are disposing of waste oil in a
responsible manner, to minimise the risks of impact on the environment,
including oiling of wildlife and habitats. These include the following recommendations for disposal of home oils:
(W39.15Feb05.w1)

Do not pour used engine oil down the drain, but take it to an
oil bank for recycling. In the UK the Freephone number 0800 66 33 66
will provide information on the nearest oil recycling bank. (W39.15Feb05.w1)

N.B. Most surface drains connect directly to a stream or
river, therefore oil poured down the drain will directly pollute
that stream or river. (W39.15Feb05.w1)

Avoid mixing oil with paint, solvent etc. as this makes it very
difficult to recycle the oil. (W39.15Feb05.w1)

If using home heating oil, regularly check the oil tank and pipes
for leaks, and remember that a sudden increase in the amount of oil
used may indicate a leak. (W39.15Feb05.w1)